Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-04-02

t4llt 10 WOMAN.
The First Scene of the Kind I'm Merry
France in Fifteen Years.
A woman has been guillotined In
France for the first time in fifteen years,
writes Paris correspondent OF the New
York World. The circumstances attend
ing the execution were horribly revolt
ing, as were also the circumstances at
tending the crime. The woman had
murdered her old mother, whom she con-
sidered burden on her. She took ev-
ery precaution to insure the success OF
the murder. She first saturated the Old
woman's clothing with oil, then set tire
to her, and held her down with long
stick while the decrepit old creature was
roasting to death. The old woman cried
piteously for mercy, bat the heartless
daughter held her down till she was
burnt to crisp. And then to crown
murder with blasphemy, she placed
lighted candle before the statue of the
Virgin, as an act OF Thanksgiving, for
the successful issue of the murder OF her
mother. The inhabitants Of the Ramon
tin, in which the crime took place, were
thrown into state of unspeakable ex-
4citement. The authorities had much
difficulty to prevent the people from
mobbing the prison and lynching the
prisoner. A speedy trial-and trials in
France are always speedy--lone satis-
fed the populace. The woman was
prom tly condemned to death.
The French, as is known, are repug-
nant to the death sentence, and French
juries come in for much ridicule, apro-
pos of 'extenuating Circumstances" But
this case the trial was over before other
trials would have been begun. Filial
Rove in France is one of the strongest
of the peasantry, and any
one who abuses parent is relentlessly
sabooed from society.
In the present instance the repug-
nance of the people in regard to the ex-
ecution of woman was overcome by the
-atrocity Of the crime, and President
Grevy, who is opposed to capital pun
ishnent on principle. end who sends nine
out of ten murderers to New Caledonia
instead of to M. Deibler's machine,
signed the death warrant without ques-
s4ion.
When the arrival of M. Deibler became
known to the people of the town, the
evening before the execution, there was
general rejoicing. The people remained
up all night to witness the execution in
the morning. Most of them were on
the ground outside the prison as early
as midnight. When, about o'clock in
the morning, the tumbril or cart ap-
peared bearing the murderess to the
place of execution the assembled multi
sude sent up joyous shout. The dis
tance from the Jail to the execution
ground was long, but the entire popu-
aace to the town followed the death cor
vtege. All along the way the people
-hooted and jeered, the women especially,
and pressed at times so threateningly
around the vehicle that the gendarmee
had to draw their weapons.
On arriving at the fatal spot dead
silence fell on the multitude. The wo.
man was ordered to descend from the
vehicle, but she did not respond to the
summons. She had tainted. The
officers removed her and carried her tc
che guillotine, which was erimly stand.
ing in the morning light. On her way
she 10 severed her sens and screamed
and resisted. She was promptly placed
on the fatal instrument, with her head
thrust through the bascule. Her screams
were drowned by the shouts Of the as
ssembled people. They crushed around
ahe instrument despite the efforts of the
gendarmes to keep them back. Mothers
] held up their babes and men held ur
their little boys at arms length to lei
them witness the execution of the muir.
deress, that they might remember the
lesson of life.
M Deibler, who is humane man, az
Ear as such may be said of an execution.
or, did not p.olong the scene. He
ssouched the "button" while the culprit
was screaming and those assembled PEG.
pie shouting. Tie head dropped into
the basket; the body was thrown, with
the discovered head, into a wagon, and
hurried off to the cemetery. The at.
'Sendants of M, Deibler washed the blood
from the flags and machine with their
sponges, and the immense crowd re-
turned home satisfied that Justice had
been melted out to the unnatural daugh-
ter who had SO cruelty murdered her
aged mother. It is seldom sach ghast-
iy scene is witnessed in France.
A Discourse on Fortune-Telling.
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